Apparatus for working under water

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FOR WORKING UNDER WATER COMPRISING A COMBINATION OF A SUBMERGIBLE WORKING MACHINE SUCH AS A BULLDOZER AND A FLOATING BODY EQUIPPED WITH VARIOUS DEVICES NECESSARY FOR OPERATING THE WORKING MACHINE. A SUBMERGIBLE CONTROL CHAMBER ACCOMMODATING AN OPERATOR IS SUSPENDED INTO WATER FROM THE FLOATING BODY TO ENABLE THE OPERATOR TO CONTROL THE OPERATION OF THE WORKING MACHINE.

Mamba 1971 we lTAMl APPARATUS FOR WORKING UNDER WATER Filed March 13, 1969 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent ice 3,568,454 APPARATUS FOR WORKING UNDER WATER Yasuo Itami, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to Japan Development and Construction Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan Filed Mar. 13, 1969, Ser. No. 806,902 Claims priority, application Japan, Oct. 18, 1968, 43/ 91,343 Int. Cl. B63c 11/40, 11/42 US. CI. 61-69 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a novel apparatus for working under water utilizing a submergible working machine such as a bulldozer and the like civil engineering machines.

According toprior art methods, in order to operate such a submergible bulldozer to level or dig the ground under sea or river water, it was necessary to use a television camera or to cause a diver to dive to observe the operation of the bulldozer and the condition of the water bottom so as to inform the operator on a ship about the progress of such operations and conditions. With either method the operator can not directly observe the condition of operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus for working under water wherein an operator can directly observe the operation of a bulldozer and the like operating under water.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention there is provided an apparatus for working under water comprising a submergible working machine; a floating body including means to anchor the floating body, a power unit to supply motive fluid to said submergible working machine through a hose, vertical rods, means supported by the floating body to guide the vertical movement of the vertical rods and means to effect vertical movement of the vertical rods; and a submergible control chamber supported by the control rods, said control chamber being adapted to accommodate an operator and being equipped with a control device to control the supply of the motive fluid to the working machine and to control said means for effecting the vertical movement of the vertical rods. The floating body is provided with an air compressor to supply compressed air to the control chamber. The control chamber has a transparent window and light projecting means so that the operator can observe the operation of the submergible working machine and the condition under water whereby the operator can readily and accurately manipulate the working machine in the same manner as on land.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention can be more clearly understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which the single figure shows a Patented Mar. 9, 1971 perspective view of the apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the accompanying drawing there is shown a floating body or platform 1 including a pair of downwardly extending anchoring posts 2 and 2' on one side of the body and one or more anchors 3 and 3 on the other side. On the upper surface of the floating body are mounted a power unit 4, fixed cylinders 6 and 6' for slidably receiving vertical rods 5 and 5', a source of electric supply 7, an air compressor 8, a winding drum 9 and hoisting booms 10.

Power unit 4 supplies motive fluid such as pressurized oil, water or air to a submergible bulldozer 11 through a power host 13 to cause it to run or to operate its plow 12. The upper ends of rods 5 and 5 are connected together by a cross bar 24 and a submergible operating chamber 15 is supported by the lower ends of rods 5 and 5'.

The operating chamber 15 is provided with a transparent window or wall 16 at least on the front side thereof so that the operator who can enter the chamber through a hatch 17 can observe the condition under water. The operating chamber is also equipped with suitable light projectors 18 and 18' to illuminate the bottom of the body of water, a control panel 19, an air line 20 and a. communication cable 21 which is used to communicate by a telephone link between the operator and a man on the floating body and to control the supply of motive fluid from the power unit 4 by means of control panel 19. The communication cable may be conveniently wound around the air hose 20 which in turn is wrapped around drum 9 containing a helical spring, not shown. The hose 20 serves to supply compressed air to the interior of control chamber 15 from compressor 8.

The control panel 19 is also used to control upward and downward motion of the control chamber 15. In the illustrated embodiment, control panel 19 is used to control a winch 22 around which is wrapped a cable 23 with its upper end connected to the cross bar 24 and its lower end connected to the control chamber 15. As shown in the drawing, the bulldozer 17 is provided with an eye stud 25 to which a hook 26 of hoisting boom 10 is to be engaged to hoist up the submergible bulldozer, The fore end of the floating body 1 is provided with a notch 27 to accommodate the control chamber when it is elevated to the level of the floating body.

In operation, the floating body 1 is anchored at a position at which the under water operation is performed by means of anchoring posts 2 and 2 and anchors 3 and 3'. Then the submergible bulldozer 17 is lowered into water by manipulating hoisting booms 10 and hook 26 which may not be required to be disengaged from eyebolt 25 during operation of the bulldozer. Then the operator in the control chamber 15 suitably manipulates control means on panel 19 to operate winch 22 whereby the control chamber 15 is lowered into water to the desired depth at which the operator can supervize the operation of the bulldozer as well as the condition of the bottom of water through transparent window 16. Further, in accordance with this invention, supply of the motive fluid from power unit 4 and hence the operation of the submergible bulldozer can be readily controlled by controls on the control panel 19 thus providing operations commensurate with the condition of the bottom of water.

This eliminates the necessity of utilizing an expensive television camera or causing a diver to dive to give orders to the submergible bulldozer regarding its opera-- 3 tion. Thus various operations can be made under water at high efficiencies as if they were done on the ground.

While the invention has been explained by describing a particular embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for excavating under water comprising:

(a) a submergible fluid driven excavating machine having drive means therewithin to propel the same over the bottom;

(b) a floating platform;

(c) means to anchor said platform in a fixed position in the water;

(d) power means on said platform to supply motive fluid to said excavating machine;

(e) hose means interconnecting said power means and said excavating machine;

(if) tubular guide means on said platform;

(g) vertical rod means reciprocable within and guided by said guide means and adapted to be moved downwardly within the Water a substantial distance beneath said platform;

(h) a control chamber adapted to accommodate an operator secured to the bottom of said rod means;

(i) means on said platform to effect raising and lowering of said chamber and rod means;

(j) first control means in said chamber actuable by the operator to control the output of said power means to effectively control the operation of said excavating machine;

(k) second control means in said chamber actuable by said operator to control the means to raise and lower the chamber and rod means; and

(1) means in said platform to accommodate said chamber when the same is raised above the water.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said platform is provided with an air compressor which supplies compressed air to said control chamber, and an air hose interconnecting said compressor and chamber.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control chamber includes a transparent window and light projecting means for illuminating the area in which the excavating machine is working.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to anchor the platform includes a pair of vertical anchoring posts at one side of said platform and at least one anchor at the opposite side thereof.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said platform has means to hoist said submergible excavating machine.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said hoist means comprises a powered winch, boom means on one side of said platform, and a cable wound on said winch and passing over said boom means and adapted for attachment of its free end to said excavating machine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,997,149 4/1935 Lake 61-69 2,585,712 2/1952 Wiggins 61-69 2,981,347 4/1961 Bauer et al 6169X 3,381,485 5/1968 Crooks et al 61-69 3,425,230 2/1969 Haynes 6l69 J. KARL BELL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

